Chapter 141

Next, the nobles naturally did not delay, following behind Brick and Fario toward the village entrance.

As they walked, watching Gervas's calm and composed expression, the minor nobles grew increasingly uneasy.

Although none believed Gervas's claim was true, he was far too composed!

"Do you think Baron Gervas has some ulterior motive? Could something be wrong with his mind?" one noble whispered, pointing subtly to his own head.

"Possible. But I think he might've killed two hundred serfs and passed them off as enemies…"

Amidst murmurs, the group finally reached the entrance of Heibei Village.

"Commander Brick, those are the heads I brought back!"

Gervas pointed to the cart guarded by Knight Mi Gen Gen and the others.

Fario had also intended to step closer for a look.

But then came a rustling sound.

As Knight Mi Gen Gen and the others lifted the ox-hide tarp covering the cart, the bloody scene before them made Fario halt in his tracks.

Brick, however, was a commander who had seen blood before—he didn't even frown, walking straight up to the cart.

"It's real!"

Brick had previously found it hard to believe, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.

But with each enemy head laid out before him, he could no longer deny that Gervas's claim was true.

"But Baron Gervas, how did you manage this?"

"Pure luck, really. The savages panicked the moment we ambushed them."

"While they were in disarray, my men wiped them all out!" Gervas said coolly.

Brick: "..."

Seeing Gervas's earnest expression, Brick suspected he was lying—but he had no proof.

And yet, such a dazzling achievement—

Any noble would've boasted about it endlessly!

Could Baron Gervas really be lying to them?

"Baron Gervas slew two hundred western savages?"

"Seems so?! Look at Commander Brick's face—it must be confirmed, right? This is unbelievable!"

The surrounding nobles stood too far to see the heads clearly, but they'd caught the gist from Gervas and Brick's exchange.

Now, all of them were stunned.

"This can't be real!"

Fario's face turned pale; he no longer cared about nausea, rushing toward the cart while pressing a silk handkerchief to his nose and mouth.

Clearly, he suspected Brick had been bribed by Gervas.

But when he reached the cart, Fario's pupils shrank.

"This… this can't be!"

Seeing why Fario had approached, Brick, to avoid getting entangled in trouble, called out to the crowd: "Come all of you, take a look—let's confirm Baron Gervas's battlefield results."

Then, the other minor nobles stepped forward one by one.

And when they saw the heads on the cart, their final lingering doubts vanished entirely.

Because the difference between ordinary kingdom subjects and western savages was unmistakable.

Western savages, living in the wilds, were slightly more muscular than kingdom folk, with darker, tougher skin.

Most importantly, western savages worshipped totems and tattooed their faces.

Thus, tattoos and skin tone were the clearest markers of a savage.

"Wait—could these be slaves who had tattoos applied in advance?"

"You all know the fighting strength of western savages. Could Gervas's four hundred men really wipe out two hundred of them?"

At that moment, Fario's eyes flickered, and he suddenly spoke up.

The surrounding nobles froze, then lowered their heads in silence.

Clearly, Fario was picking a fight.

Because the tattoos on these savages clearly bore the marks of age.

And weren't the heads they'd collected in Heibei Village exactly like these?

But no one dared voice such words.

Gervas looked at Fario, his eyes now cold.

Fario's level of shamelessness had just shattered Gervas's understanding of decency.

"Count Fario, you say the heads could be faked—then what about these weapons, and this bone flag?"

"Could I have faked all of these too?"

Gervas no longer bothered with politeness.

Knight Mi Gen Gen and the others lifted the tarp off the second cart, displaying all the spoils of war.

Gervas had prepared for this—so even worthless items like stone hammers and wooden spiked clubs, he'd brought back every single one.

"A bone flag? Wait… the head on the flag… could it be…" Brick's gaze suddenly locked onto the flag.

Especially when he saw the bloody, fleshy head atop it, his face changed drastically as he stepped forward.

After a close inspection, Commander Brick trembled as he spoke: "This is Baron Livin!"

"What?" The surrounding minor nobles gasped.

They'd heard of Baron Livin's fate on the road.

The nobles had been deeply shocked by the news that he'd been killed and used as a banner by the savages.

Because often, in wars between kingdoms of nobles, noble captives are not killed.

As long as the family is willing to pay a ransom, the noble can return safely.

After all, who has never suffered defeat?

Therefore, unless there is deep hatred, nobles tend to be restrained.

But savages are different; nobles captured by them are basically doomed to die.

Moreover, it is said that Baron Leven was even beheaded and his head used to consecrate the banner!

"Baron Gervas, do you know which tribe these savages belong to?"

"If I recall correctly, at that time they seemed to call themselves warriors of the Black Tiger Tribe!" Gervas said.

"The Black Tiger Tribe! It is them; a week ago, savages of the Black Tiger Tribe led other tribes to capture Baron Leven's fortress..."

"Therefore, Baron Gervas, the one you killed is very likely the chief culprit behind Baron Leven's murder!"

With Brick's solemn words, Gervas's merit was firmly established.

Even if Farrio wanted to use his influence to pull some strings here, it would probably be impossible.

First, Brick's public acknowledgment had already defined the nature of the matter.

Second, the bone banner of the Black Tiger Tribe, plus Baron Leven's severed head, were evidence that could not be erased.

Avenging Baron Leven concerns the honor of everyone involved in this war from top to bottom; afterward, the main army will certainly send the intelligence to the Royal Capital.

So, this is absolutely something Farrio cannot cover up.

Subsequently, Brick personally led the scribes to count the battle results.

Furthermore, he prepared to dispatch an elite cavalry squad to send the news and Baron Leven's head to Lei Dun Fortress overnight.

"Baron Gervas, your battle merits have been registered; additionally, the account of this Black Mountain Campaign has been written above. Please confirm if there are any errors!"

Gervas took the report parchment prepared for Lei Dun Fortress, read it carefully for a moment, and was slightly surprised.

It was not that the record contained errors, but rather that Commander Brick had not described even a bit of his own or Farrio's merit.

In this report, everything was based on Gervas's recent oral account; that is, all the merit belonged to the Storm Squad.